'13 Parabola

It is only possible to be a hoarder based on my location. There is limited interest for high quality "craft" beer in my area. I also happen to live 90 miles from the brewery. I know for certain that retailers in my area ended up with at least 12 cases total. Honestly, I would have purchased more, but as of today the supply is gone, with the exception of one store that is already charging $25 a bottle!

 

to be fair, sounds like he got 1/6th of certain stores entire allocation, in his area.

 

I called or visited every store in my area that had connections to the local distributor. My favorite store had 3 cases, and I was able to buy one of those. Once I had an opportunity to sample a bottle, I went back and bought what they had left.. which was 6 bottles. After calling around I was able to find one store that still had a case that they would sell me at a reasonable price. Currently I have 23 bottles, of which I plan to cellar at least 18.

 

Damn! 2 cases I'm jealous.lol.

 

http://i.imgur.com/BDx6uRv.jpg

One more try one the pic..

 

And I thought I was lucky to get my hands on 3 bottles already

 

The more '13 I've had (on draft) the less happy I am with it. The '12 and '11 seem much more balanced, sweet, enjoyable. It was a top 3 beer for me. The '13 is harsh, bitter, with the sweetness taking a definite background role. I don't even think this would make my top 50. So is it just that I prefer it aged, or have the new barrels really changed the flavor profile of this beer in a way that I can't abide?

EDIT: My Parabola reviews from 4-9 months ago include words like "dark fruits, maply, vanilla, perfumy, flowery" and I'm not getting any of that from the pours I've had the last few days: mainly harsh, bitter, and a little bit of chocolate & molasses. Pretty disappointed.

 

Time will tell I suppose. I very much enjoyed the '12 when it was young, but not so much with the '11. For me, the '13 has the most potential in the flight. Yes, the booziness is very up front, but I feel like the complexity of this year more than compensates for any shortcomings. Hopefully, with a bit of age my hunch turns out to be correct.

 

I actually thought this years was less hot than any past. I found myself drinking it way too fast. Seems much more muted and tame than years past also. I don't mind the '13, though it is noticeably different.

 

Since I also have to eat, I could only afford two bottles. So my plan is to drink one this winter, then cellar the other for a couple years. By the time I get around to drinking this I may be in a new income bracket and buying cases of the stuff like some of the folks around here!

 

I've been told that many shops on LI will receive maybe 2 bottles.
Why are we only entitled to a few bottles when shops elsewhere get numerous cases?!

 

I currently have 7 bottles. Some to drink and some to age!

 

Got lucky enough to find 5 in Colorado, cracked one open last Sunday for my birthday, WOW it truly lives up to the hype, to me it easily stands above Abyss, Big Bad Baptist, and Founder's KBS. Loved Sucaba, still aging one bottle from this years batch. My mouth is going to have a battle with my will power to try to resist drinking this nectar!

 

Firestone stores its beer in coolers from the moment its bottled. They are trying to avoid any temp shift since production

 

Found bottles of Parabola, Double DBA and Sucaba at Beercraft near Santa Rosa. Only grabbed one of Parabola. Looking forward to drinking it next to last years version.

 

OT but I just put down my traded for bottle of Sucuba. Definitely Sucuba....no Parabola here! I wish though

Not that it wasn't head to head for the best Barleywine I've had, Mother of All Storms or even a 4 year old Bigfoot are up there.

 

You're going to be real sad if you cellar these.

 

My 2012's have been "cellaring" at room temp, and I have thoroughly enjoyed those so far, so I'll be taking the same approach with my 2013's. However I don't really expect that will change them into what I consider (at this point) to be a far superior vintage.